Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur de Montrouge, Brutalist church in Montrouge, France
Église Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur is a concrete church building with a modernist design that defines its physical form. The interior features a wide central nave and a soaring overhead space created by the raw concrete structure.
Construction of the current building took place between 1934 and 1940 under architect Eric Bagge's design, replacing an earlier medieval church that stood on the site. This rebuilding reflected broader changes in how religious spaces were being created during that period.
Artists from Montparnasse workshops painted frescoes inside showing scenes from Saint Jacques's life, which you can still see today when you walk through the interior. These murals shape how the space looks and help tell religious stories to visitors.
Take time to explore the raw concrete architecture and interior layout, as the building offers generous open space throughout. The experience works best when you move slowly and study the structural elements and wall details.
A major renovation between 2013 and 2017 restored the concrete structure and updated the interior facilities to modern standards. This work preserved the brutalist design while making the building more functional for contemporary use.
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